Separator



Oct. 16, 1934. A. MCLELLAN 1,976,856

sEPARAToa Filed March 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. MCLELLAN Uct. 16, 1934.

SEPARATOR Filed March 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/v VEA/TUR ylo gers which together prent a greatly multiplied and extended surface reaching` like a net work thru the mass of rapidly moving pulp; and this of course without loss or flouring of the mercury.

While in the priorart agitation is employed in amalgamators such is a physical agitation promoted solely to jig heavy particles of sand and ore and prevent clogging of the plates.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and different type of agitation or vibration to the amalgam plates so that in addition to dislodging heavy particles it promotes, or aids in promoting the desired attenuation of the mercury surface. Also it is thought that the m04' tion imparted to the mercury by features of this invention helps in keeping the mercury free of films and furthers certain electrical and magnetic thickness of pulp'and rapidity of flow conducive.

to high values obtained in a given period from a plate of given area; n y

In myimproved amalgamator about to'be described the construction and operation made possible by this invention is so simple t it becomes at yonce commercially practica le to move the machine direct to the isolated locationsl where v extremely low grade ores and alluvial deposits may be profitably treated.

The salient steps made possible by and included in my invention will now be vgiven:l

One such step and the ilrst is thatof mixing the ore, tailings, silt or the like to` form the pulp which vis then passed over a riiile plate containing mercury in each pocket. The plate serves as an electrode while other electrodes contact with the water of the pulp and close a circuit sending low voltage alternating current thru the pulp. This passage of alternatingcurrent is believed to set up a condition in the gold orother metal to be recovered which causes each particle and molecule of the metal to -become an isolated whirling mass separated from its previous incrusl,tations and-in proper condition for amalgamation. It also appears that the condition of thel metal product by this alternating current renders the metal more susceptible to being effected in the desired manner by other forces which are brought to bear upon it as described in the next step.

Co-incident with the passage of the alternating n current thru the flowing pulp, lines of force from a magnetic field of alternating current type are set up substantially normal yto the plates and the body of mercury in each riille pocket.

Y This is done by the provision-of alternatingv To attempt to explain, in the light of present.

dayunderstanding of electrical and magnetic phenomena, the combined action of the low voltage charge passing from electrode to the plate, and the action of" the low voltage current and the' magneto fluxl combined, is venturing upon dis-l puted hypothesese Seeing' is believing, however, and in actual observation of my improved amalgamator it is seen during operation that rapid flow-of pulp does not- `dislodge the mercury; the mercury shows the brightness and mobility ascribed by skilled Dersons to the'most efllcient form of amalgamation: the mercury sends out ilngers into the flowing` mass pulling the gold back to the plates; and after a long run itis seen that the plates still contain the original amount of quick, while oi' course retorting shows the nal proof ofthe maohines eiliciency. V

It sliouldfbe explained at this point .that by means of iron plates secured toy the'underside of the plate in suitable relation to certain poles 0f the magnets, said magnets provide the desired physical vibration of the plate as well as the more mysterious effects upon the mercury and recoverable metals.V y

In the accompanying drawings I have shown 300 one practical embodiment of my invention; same being in the form of an amalgamator having all the features and advantages of my invention as well as .the features of advantage of the rime and jig combined. y I r 1N Inthesaid-drawings:

Figure lis aplan viewof the smalgsmator, parts being shown broken away to reveal under-l Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof. 110

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section Specincally; the numeral 4 indicates acopper l riille plate of the stepped type and suitably in clined vas a whole for the gravity flow of pulp 11.5 from the apron 5 at the upper end to a trough 8 and spill 'I respectively positioned at the lower end.

Each of the indentations or pockets 8 of the rime plate is partially lled with mercury as at 9 so 12p that the entire surface of the plate is not covered with mercury. It is sufficient that the mercury employed be commercially pure and otherwise untreated.

The plate is of such thickness for its width and length' that it is capable of acting as a drum head andcapable of vibration at low pitch to produce tympanitic resonance. This term is employed in contradistinction to the ordinary vibration of la jig or the like; it being understood that the copper itself vlbrates and not the entire assembly.

Accordingly the plate is held securely by two relatively non-vlbratory parallel side frame members l0, 10; each of which is bisected longitudin- 135 ally along a line 11 conforming to the surface contours of the railie plate. These bisected parts of each side member are clamped again to each other by thru bolts 12, 12 after the corresponding end of the plate has been placed between them.

On certain of the riilie steps on the underside of the plate iron plates 14, 14 of limited area are suitably secured.

Above the rile plate I provide af grid composed of two parallel side members 16, 16 and 145 connecting cross bars 17, 17; the members 16, 16 being just above and parallel to the corresponding one of the side members 10, 10, while each cross bar extends from member 16 to the other member 16 parallely above a corresponding riiile 150 nordsee pocket; there being one such r for each ci sev eral rime pockets.

The grid is adjustably supported above the members 10, 10, by springs 19, 19 one around each ci' four studs 2`0, 20 rising 4from the side members 10, 10. Each member 16 at each end is tends.

stood. but not so shown, to any suitable source.

provided with a'eorresponding bore 21 receiving the corresponding o! studs 20, 20. A nut 22 on each stud is threaded for vertical movement on the stud to provide for adjustment oi elevation oi each end oi'each ci members 16, i6 so that the gride as a whole be accurately adjusted and leveled with respect to the rime plate.

, The te members 10, i9 of the riille plate are oi' course die-electric and may be made from timber. A swinging gate electrode 23 is hung one on each of the cross bars of the grid and normally hands down. into the corresponding me pocket without touching the riie plate. These electrodes swing freely so that passing Water strihing a bent lower edge thereof as at 24 will swing the gate forwardly, elevating this 'end so that it rides upon the passing water current` while establishing physical and electric con@ tact therewith.

The rime plate' is provided with a terminai 25 tends, while the grid is provided at 26 with another terminal !roxn whicha second'lead 27 exese leads are connected, it is underot alternating current, preferably low and eco= nomical voltage. When'the circuit is closed by passing water, current surges from electrode rime plate thru the water.

Below each set of iron plates 14,14 I provide an alternating current electromagnet generally indicated at 29 and comprising an elongated winding 30 and a plurality of spaced laminated cores 31, 31 etc. Each core is ci' double-U form providing two outside poles 32, 32, etc., and one double width inside or central pole 33,- 33. Each half of the central poles-is of course complementary to the adjacent outer pole. I The central poles are arranged side-by-side suitably spaced transversely across the underside of alternate rime pockets so that each set of central poles 33, 33 is immediately below a correspondingiron plate 14. The upper terminations 'of each pole as at 14a are inclined according to the inclination of overlying parts of the plate.

Each magnet is fixed as at 35 to a co-extensive underlying board 36. These boards are each suspended below the plate by depending studs 37 carried by lugs 38 projecting from the frame members l0, 10 below the rillle plate. Strong springs 39 surrounding each stud hold the boards rlrmly down against nuts 40, 40; one on each stud. vThus the magnets es a whole and their poles may be accurately adjusted in proper spaced relationship to the iron plates 14, le. These springs are strong enough to prevent appreciable vibration of the magnets and boards so that when the magnets are energized with alternating current the' poles impart characteristic alternating current vibration to the iron plates 14 and the attached rime plate, while the magnets themselves do not move appreciably. Each magnet winding or coil is provided with leads 41, 41.

Now in actual operation I have found that 6 volts or less of alternating current of 60 cycles or less is suiiicient for the gate electrodes, While the magnets in practice are wound to give results at 110 volts alternating current, 60 or less cycles. 1n actual practice I supply both currents y from the same source such as a portable low cycle generator (not shown) or from a 110 volt power line; the 110 volt current being steppeddown to-low voltage by a suitable transformer, not shown, for electrodes.

The provision of the required currents and the leads and manner o1' connecting same is all obvious to those skilled in the art as is also the fact that since I have four magnets in the machine shown they may be connected to receive, for example, 110 volts, or 220 volts, or 440 volts from a line of any one of said voltages.

The method for operating the machine is equally as simple as the machine itself. First the rimes are charged with the mercury as explained before and the current circuits closed.

pulp is introduced by suitable means (not shown) to the apron at the head of the plate, whereupon it flows down the incline dropping from riiiie to rime. High recovery is the result and after a run of suitable duration the water is drained of! and the plates are scraped to remove the rich amalgam.

As to results obtained and actually observable to determine the operating emciency: When the magnets are energized it is observed that while the -mercury undergoes its peculiar motion it shows a very decided tendency to remain in the rimes notwithstanding the force of the owing pulp trying to dislodge it. 'I'he plate may be caused to vibrate audibly and the mercury is seen to be violently agitated while at all times maintaining that bright and mobile character which'experienced persons immediately recognize as indicative of maximum amalgamating power.

Even without the use of the low voltage and the electrodes, the machine provides an improved amalgamator for ,those metals and forms of its metal which are recoverable by ordinary amalgamation; this by reason oi' the peculiarl agitation imparted to the mercury by the magnets, to

efficiency, or at least the eiliciency o1' the ma' chine as a whole is undoubtedly due to the combined efl'ect of the electrodes current and the magnetic ux co-operating, even apart from the movement of the mercury.

The machine and methods above described are applicable to the recovery of silver, mercury and other metals as well as gold and those skilled in the art will understand that for any given metal there is an ideal combination o1 voltages, cycles of alternation, rate of the plate vibration etc. Also selective recovery will be possible to those skilled in the art so thatv successive recoveries may be had such as largely goldin certain riiiles, silver in others and so on thru the electromotive series of the metals.

Where mercury occurs in the ore native or in such combinations as are readily broken down by the machine, then the trough additional mercury will be found at the end of a run.

l The rapid vibration oi 'the plate is observed to prevent sand and heavy particles from accumulating on the riiiies and while magnetic iron not previouslyv separated will tend to remain in the magnetic fields the velocity of the passing pulp will periodically dislodge it, with the result 11. The separator as in claim 10 and further .including an individual paramagnetic member for each pole secured to said plate immediately above the pole; each paramagnetic member well spaced from all other members.

ARTHUR MCLELMN. 

